3 - What Do You Keep Your Hard-boiled Eggs In?
Harry was fairly nervous when he walked into Gringotts that Wednesday. He had dressed up in a respectable set of grey-blue robes and decided to use his Metamorphmagus ability to force his hair to lie flat; Harry decided he wasn't going to play around with his eyesight right then, but he did reduce the prominence of his scar. True to his word, Mr. Prewett had met him at the Leaky Cauldron at 1.15 pm; his reason for being early was that goblins respect those who honor their appointments with the bank (punctuality being critical).
Harry approached the teller.
"Good afternoon, sir, we're here for a meeting with Director Ragnok," he said.
"Names?"
"Harry Potter and Josiah Prewett."
"You're not scheduled until 2.00, Mr. Potter."
"We wanted to ensure that we would not be late, sir," Harry replied. "We also wanted to be certain that any business the honorable Director had was completed in full so that we do not take up too much of his time."
The goblin, whose name was Steelsword, was rather surprised by the respect the young wizard was showing. Most wizards and witches in Britain had little regard for the practices and procedures of Gringotts; many just barged in and demanded to be shown to their vaults or whatever else they came for. Steelsword began to feel that he was not dealing with an ordinary wizard; he immediately set off for the Director's office. Within ten minutes, Harry and Mr. Prewett were shown into their meeting early.
"Mr. Potter," Director Ragnok said, "It is good to finally meet you. Since you first entered Gringotts to withdraw money from your trust vault, we have sent you annual statements about all Potter family funds and have yet to hear any response."
"My sincerest apologies, Director Ragnok," Harry said. "The first correspondence I ever received from the magical world was my Hogwarts letter. After that, the only mail I have received has been from a few close friends."
"That is very suspicious, Mr. Potter. Have you never even received fanmail? You are one of the most famous wizards in Britain."
"I'm afraid not, sir."
"Hmm." Ragnok's eyes were narrowed. "There is another matter I wish to discuss, Mr. Potter. We have found certain discrepancies in your account. What we have discovered is that someone has been illegally withdrawing money and other objects from your vault. The only person we believe to have that power is your so-called Magical Guardian, a Mr. Albus Dumbledore."
"So, the old bastard does it again," Harry heard Mr. Prewett mutter.
"Indeed, Mr. Prewett," Ragnok responded, startling Prewett who had thought he hadn't spoken very loudly. "We observed the inventory of Mr. Potter's trust vault and found that Mr. Dumbledore has removed a great deal of money and Potter family heirlooms."
"How could he even get into Mr. Potter's vault at all? Only a goblin can access it."
"True. We learned that the account manager for the Potter vaults has been taking bribes. I can safely assure you that he won't be doing it ever again." The shark-like grin told the two humans all they needed to know about the goblin's fate. "Luckily, Dumbledore was not able to access the Potter family vaults; those are ancient and require a blood identification to enter."
"Director Ragnok," Harry spoke up, "has Dumbledore been arranging anything else without my knowledge or consent? Like…a marriage contract?"
"I'm glad you asked, Mr. Potter." Ragnok passed Harry the dreaded document. "This certificate, signed by Albus Dumbledore, dictates that you are to marry a Miss Ginevra Molly Weasley no later than her seventeenth birthday."
Harry felt sick and he noticed that Mr. Prewett was clenching his fists at the mention of Molly Weasley's daughter.
"Can Dumbledore get away with this?" Mr. Prewett asked.
"Until we know if he had the authority to name himself as Mr. Potter's Magical Guardian, he can; unless Mr. Potter becomes emancipated or has a different guardian."
"We're actually working on that, and the latter will probably be mentioned at the will-reading."
"Very good. Now, as for why you set up this meeting, Mr. Potter. The Inheritance Department had issued this." He held up a blank piece of cream-colored parchment. "Simply sign your name with this and the parchment will reveal if you have any other titles and vaults to claim."
Harry was handed a blood quill; the sensation of holding said object nearly made him ill from all the bad memories associated with it. Harry signed his name on the parchment and immediately a list appeared.
Harry James Potter
-Heir of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter
-Heir of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Peverell
-Heir of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Gryffindor
-Heir of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Ravenclaw
-Heir of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Hufflepuff
-Heir of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Slytherin
-Heir of the Noble House of Florus
-Heir of the Ancient House of Evans
"Well, well, Mr. Potter, this is quite intriguing," Ragnok said as his shark-like smile became more pronounced.
After the inheritance test in which Harry was informed he held all rights to the vaults and properties of the families mentioned, it was time for the will-reading. Harry and Mr. Prewett took their seats as Director Ragnok, accompanied by the head of the Department for Wills, a goblin named Earwrench, began the proceedings.
"We are gathered here today," Earwrench said, "to witness the reading of the joint Last Will and Testament of James Charlus Potter and his wife Lily Anne Potter nee Evans."
Earwrench set an ornately-decorated gold box on the table and unlocked it. From the box, he withdrew a parchment that bore an official-looking seal in red wax. Harry noted that the seal depicted a lion with its right paw stepping down on a pair of crossed swords. Once the document was unrolled, it began to hover in midair as a voice read off what was written.
"I, James Charlus Potter, being of sound mind and body, do hereby bequeath everything that I own, in both money and property, to my only son, Harry James Potter; with several personal bequests.
"Firstly, to my closest friend and confidant, my brother in all but blood, Sirius Orion Black, I leave 200, 000 Galleons. Don't spend it all in one go, Padfoot; and to anyone listening, that's not an exaggeration.
"Secondly, to my other dear friend, Remus John Lupin, I leave 100, 000 Galleons and an annual stipend of 5000 Galleons should he not have current employment.
"Thirdly, to my friend, Peter Edmund Pettigrew, if I died by natural causes, then I leave you 100, 000 Galleons, as well. However, if I died by Voldemort's hand or at the hands of a Death Eater, then I demand your immediate arrest. I trusted you with my and family's lives when I appointed you as Secret-Keeper.
"Now, let me turn over this will-reading to my dear Lily-flower."
"Don't call me that, James! I, Lily Anne Potter nee Evans, being of sound mind and body, take upon myself the continuation of this will.
"Should both I and my husband be dead, the following people have been approved as suitable guardians for our son.
-Francis Albert Longbottom and Alice Diane Longbottom nee Baldwin: they are good friends of ours and Alice is Harry's godmother. They are a settled, married couple who have a child of their own and are our first choice as guardians.
-Sirius Orion Black: while I feel that Sirius tends to be irresponsible, I know he would always put Harry first and would defend him to his dying breath; this is why we appointed him as Harry's godfather.
-Remus John Lupin: while he might be reluctant to look after a child due to a certain health condition, we feel that he is capable of caring for our son.
-Amelia Susan Bones: she is James' godsister and a good friend of ours; she is also looking after her niece and I know that little Susan always got along swimmingly with Harry whenever we were asked to babysit.
-Mary Adelaide MacDonald: one of my good friends from school, with whom I have kept correspondence. I know that Mary is engaged at the moment, but I'm sure she and her husband-to-be would make wonderful adoptive parents for Harry.
-Theodore Henry Tonks and Andromeda Ursula Tonks nee Black: they are a trustworthy family and Andromeda is Sirius' cousin; I have had the pleasure of meeting them and their daughter on numerous occasions and know they would be perfectly suitable.
"Should any of these people be unable to look after Harry, we request that he be placed with a family determined by the Wizengamot as long as that family was never involved with the Death Eaters; not even if they claimed to have been under the Imperius Curse. To whichever family that Harry is sent to live with, a stipend of 10, 000 Galleons will be supplied each year.
"Also, under no circumstances is our son to ever go to my sister and her family. Petunia and I are not on good terms and I know that she and her husband despise magic."
"Besides, the woman is a right bitch."
"James!"
"Well, she is, Lily-flower. Remember what happened at our engagement party?"
"I guess you have a point, there.
"Anyway, before we go, we'd like to say a few things to our son. Harry, sweetheart, we both love you more than anything else in the world. We know you will grow up into a fine young man."
"And I know that you'll be a real catch with the ladies since you got my good looks."
"I just hope he didn't get your enormous head, James."
"Oh, Harry, make sure you get some good pranking in. You've got a legacy to live up to as a Marauder's son."
"James, stop it. Ignore your father, Harry; you don't have to pull pranks if you don't want to. Personally, I'd rather you didn't."
"Oh, come on, Lils! Don't be such a killjoy!"
"Goodbye, Harry; we love you."
"Love you, Prongslet."
This will was witnessed by Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.
"Well," Earwrench said once the will went silent and fell to the table, "it seems we've got quite a situation."
"Indeed," Ragnok added with a slight snarl. "Albus Dumbledore knew the contents of this will and purposefully undermined its instructions. Mr. Potter, I do believe you can destroy that marriage contract now."
Without missing a beat, Harry pulled out the contract as Mr. Prewett handed him a lighter. Within moments, the ashes of the illegal marriage contract fell to the floor. It was oddly satisfying to watch.
"Now that that is sorted out," Ragnok continued, "we can proceed. Obviously those mentioned will receive their inheritance; with the exception of Mr. Pettigrew, who is a traitor. Mr. Potter, if you are ready, I will have someone escort you to your family vaults."
"Yes, sir," Harry said. "May I request Griphook? He showed me down to my trust vault the first time I ever came here."
Ragnok and Earwrench looked surprised. Neither of them knew of an occasion where a goblin was requested, by name, by a wizard. Griphook was called in; he, too, was surprised that a wizard knew him by name. As Harry and Mr. Prewett were led out, Ragnok turned to Earwrench.
"This young Mr. Potter is a most unusual wizard," he said.
"Indeed, sir," Earwrench agreed. "Perhaps it will be beneficial to the Goblin Nation if we keep an eye on this young man."
"You are right, Earwrench. The boy has treated us with courtesy not commonly found in the wizarding world. Something doesn't sit well with me, though."
"What is it, sir?"
"Firstly, I want to know why Albus Dumbledore has been interfering with Mr. Potter's funds. That action alone is cause to ban the headmaster from Gringotts. Also, I want to know why he went against the instructions in the Potter will. Everyone knows that young Mr. Potter was sent to live with his Muggle relatives; but, it seems that such an action was illegal."
"Shall I inform the staff, sir?"
"No, not yet; I want to wait and see what Mr. Potter plans to do about this."
"Yes, sir. Sir?"
"Yes, Earwrench?"
"I was sensing there was something off in Mr. Potter's reaction when his Muggle relatives were mentioned."
"Yes, I saw it, too. He seemed to tense. What do you think it means?"
"I saw the boy when he first came to Gringotts, sir. He was in the company of that half-giant, Rubeus Hagrid. From where I was sitting, the boy looked as though he was wearing rags and hadn't been fed. I could also smell blood, perhaps from an untreated wound."
"You don't think…" the Director trailed off as he and Earwrench exchanged a look.
It is a little-known fact about goblins that, though they are violent in nature, they cannot condone the harming of a child. The idea that the heir to one of their oldest clients (and, as it turned out, the heir of several other, even older clients) had been abused, was something that thoroughly disgusted the two goblins. To the goblins, children were deemed a blessing, and to harm one was seen as one of the most disgusting acts a person could commit. The two goblins made a silent agreement that if what they suspected about Mr. Potter's home-life was correct, they would gladly give their support in executing vengeance.
The journey down to the Potter family vaults was longer than the one to Harry's trust vault; the cart took them down, down into one of the deepest levels of the bank, the location of the oldest family vaults. Instead of a dragon, something else guarded the Potter vaults; a large, yellow-furred sphinx with a thick, brown mane and green almond-shaped eyes sat there staring at them.
"The Potter vaults have been guarded by a sphinx for generations," Griphook explained. "The Potters started the tradition on the grounds that any Potter who can't answer a few simple questions doesn't deserve access to the vault."
The sphinx smirked cheekily at Harry, as though she held assumptions about his worthiness.
"Ask away," Harry said to the creature.
The sphinx grinned and began.
"Who approaches the Potter vaults must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see," she said.
"Ask me the questions, Miss Sphinx," Harry said. "I'm not afraid."
"What is your name?"
"Harry James Potter."
"What is your quest?"
"To inspect my family's vaults."
"What…is your favorite color?"
"Green."
"Right, off you go."
Harry looked at the sphinx curiously.
"Uh…thank you?"
The two men and the goblin then proceeded onwards.
"She always gives an easy question to the Potters," Griphook explained. "You should hear some of the things she asks others who have tried to get through to the vaults."
"Like what?"
"I believe she asked Albus Dumbledore what the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow was."
"An African or European swallow?" asked Josiah.
Griphook smirked and shrugged.
"Is there a way I can withdraw money from my account without having to come all the way down to the vaults every time?" Harry asked.
"Why, yes, Mr. Potter. We've developed special wallets that allow you to automatically withdraw coins from you money vault. However, if you wish to see your family heirlooms, artefacts, and documents, then you will have to come to the vault in person."
After making a mental note to purchase one of those wallets, Harry approached the first vault. Griphook unlocked the vault door and opened it to reveal an enormous chamber that was filled to the ceiling with gold, silver, and (to a lesser extent) bronze coins.
"Don't spend it all in one place, Mr. Potter," Josiah quipped good-naturedly.
The next vault they visited was entirely dedicated to jewellery and other objects of value that would be used by the Lady Potter. They then moved on to a vault that possessed the family books of magic (a number of the spellbooks had their origins in other families that the Potters had inter-married with); Harry made sure to pick some to bring with him. There was a smaller vault that held what was salvaged from the house at Godric's Hollow, and then there was a huge vault that contained the most valuable of the family artefacts and records (including journals, marriage/birth certificates, documents regarding the family properties, and letters), and then there was a vault filled with nothing but priceless gems.
Lastly, there was a vault that contained the portraits of James and Lily Potter; that was something Harry had never thought he could have in his wildest dreams.
Harry entered the vault with immense trepidation. As soon as he stepped inside, the room lit up to reveal the slumbering portraits of Harry's parents.
"Um, hello?" Harry said softly.
"Hmm?" the portrait-James mumbled as he began to wake up. "Harry? Harry, is that you, son?"
"Yeah, it's me."
"Lily, wake up! It's Harry!"
"Harry! Sweetheart, it's so wonderful to see you," Lily exclaimed. "We've been waiting ages for you to come see us."
Harry felt himself start to tear up. Finally, he had a way of communicating with his parents. Even if it wasn't really them, it was the closest he would be able to get. Harry had a brief but happy meeting with his parents' portraits. He gave them a short explanation of what had happened to him after their deaths (Lily was so enraged that she seemed prepared to attempt to escape from her portrait with the intention of killing Albus Dumbledore). Before Harry left, his parents' portraits suggested that he have them sent to Potter Manor for the time being.
Once the business at Gringotts was concluded, Harry headed back to the Leaky Cauldron.
Later that day, Albus Dumbledore was sitting in his office, making plans for the "Greater Good" as he often did, when an owl swooped in and dropped a letter on his desk. Dumbledore immediately recognized the Gringotts seal and knew that something was wrong.
Dear Mr. Dumbledore, the letter began,
It has come to our attention that you have been interfering with bank policy and have tampered with the accounts of another of our clients, a Mr. Harry James Potter. Active immediately, your account has been seized until you have repaid the money you have stolen, plus interest.
Sincerely,
Chief Director Ragnok
This was not good.
Chapter 4
"Been Shopping?" "No, I've Been Shopping."
The days that followed were truly enjoyable for young Harry Potter. He was maintaining a delightful correspondence with Luna Lovegood; her letters were always filled with stories of some of her 'interesting' creatures. Harry had also encountered Neville Longbottom; and, unlike the last time, Harry decided to try and befriend him then; Harry had also taken it upon himself to inquire if Neville was using a wand that had belonged to someone else (of course, Harry already knew the answer); the result of this conversation led to Harry revealing that it is the "wand that chooses the wizard" and that it is harder to get results with a wand that hasn't chosen you. Harry had a feeling that Neville wouldn't be using his father's wand for much longer.
Another positive was that Mr. Bayly had instructed his daughter to help Harry with his shopping; this was a good thing because it meant Harry actually had a guide for both Diagon Alley and Muggle London. Red saw to it that Harry really did learn his way around and that he would have a decent wardrobe when he went back to Hogwarts. Red was a pretty fun person to hang out with, even if she was rather strange at times; she had been a Hufflepuff when she attended Hogwarts and was quite a decent potion-brewer.
"I would have continued on to NEWT level, if it didn't mean I had to deal with Snape for two more years. I ended up taking summer courses at the Salem Institute in America. Say, if you're looking for a Potions teacher, seeing as you're getting that restraining order against Snape, I know this guy who would be perfect. His name's Robert Preston; I met him at Salem and he's a genius."
Red introduced Harry to the entirety of Diagon Alley in a matter of days. It turned out that there was much more to the magical shopping area than Harry first realized.
"Over there is Magical Imports and Exchange," Red pointed out. "They opened a few years ago and trade in just about anything. The business was actually started by a group of Muggle-borns who seized upon the opportunity of the Common Market. It's a pity that the Common Market evolved into the horrible, flesh-rending monster that is the European Union; but, really, it worked out fairly well in the magical community.
"Over there, that little shop on the left, that's Brimstone Metal-Workers; they make some of the finest custom jewellery in magical Britain; though, personally, I think you can find equally nice jewellery in the Muggle world.
"That shop over there is Fetterwick's Publishing Company; they are the single-most popular place to get any work published. They even provide book-binding service; of course, that is carried out by cousins of the Bayly family. Great-great-granddad was quite vexed when Ewan MacBayly tricked him out of the ownership of the business."
As they chatted, Harry found he really liked Red; she was a real gold-mine of information and had an older sister quality to her. Eventually, they reached a point where Red asked if Harry had a back-up wand.
"Well, no, I never knew you could get a back-up wand," Harry said.
"Well, we can sort that out right now," Red responded. "I actually got my back-up before I even set foot in Ollivander's. Follow me."
When they approached the entrance to Knockturn Alley, Harry was more than a little put-off.
"Don't worry, Harry," Red reassured him, "these people know who I am and that if they try anything my father can have them shipped straight to Azkaban."
She led him down into the darkened alley. People shied away from Red a bit, obviously hoping not to get on the wrong side of the only child of a man like Hamilton Bayly. She steered Harry into a small, sketchy-looking shop. The bell rang as the door opened and a grubby man in dirty, greying clothes approached.
"Miss Bayly," he greeted in an oily tone, "what a pleasure to see you again. How may I be of service?"
"Good afternoon, Mr. Leech; a young client of my father's has expressed an interest in a 'special' wand."
"Ah, of course, a magical focus requisit-t-t-t-te." Harry noticed that the man 'tutted' his 't's. "Let's take a look at magical cores, young man. Just stick your hand over the wand core samples and you should feel the magical energy coming off it." He led Harry over to the wand core samples. "Why don't you try this one, sir? It's our latest arrival; Essence of Sea Mist."
Harry held his hand out over the bottle but felt only a faint twinge of energy.
"Hmm, sorry, no," Harry said.
"Ah, well, how 'bout something a little more musky, this one's hair of Mimmo."
The connection was even weaker that time.
"No."
"Ah, a tricky one, eh?"
They tried a few more magical cores before Harry felt a huge amount of energy come from some strange animal fur.
"Ah, I see you've picked something up with this," said Mr. Leech. "A very special material, that is. Yes, fur from a Burmese flying-tiger."
"I'm feeling a huge magical connection," Harry said.
"Very well, sir; I'll get you a strand for your wand. Now, on to woods."
It took a much shorter time with woods. Eventually, Harry picked out a block of almond wood.
"Now for a focus gem," Mr. Leech continued. He led Harry over to a selection of gemstones. Harry simply held his hand over these until one lit up.
"Ah, yes, I got this diamond from a fire-crab shell."
"Isn't that illegal?" Red asked.
"Moving along! Well, well, well, this is quite interesting."
"What's interesting?" Harry asked.
"Oh, just the combination of materials, sir. Yes. Crab, tiger, and almond; very unusual. Anyway, I'll have the wand ready by the end of the week. That will be 1000 Galleons."
"He'll pay you half now and half when the job is done," Red answered.
"I wouldn't expect anything else, Miss Bayly; I do work in Knockturn Alley, after all."
As the two headed out, Harry inquired if what they just did was legal.
"Sort of," Red answered. "His acquisition of the materials is probably borderline-legal, at best. Having a second wand is frowned-upon by society; I'll never understand why that is, though. Best not to tell people about this, Harry; only confide in someone you are absolutely certain you can trust."
"Why didn't Mr. Leech recognize who I was?"
"Oh, he did, but he doesn't really pay attention to people's names unless they can cause trouble for him in court."
"Well, it certainly makes a nice change. He's one of the only shopkeepers we've met who hasn't gotten worked up because I'm the bloody Boy-Who-Lived."
"Well, if you're so anxious to get away from your fame, I'd be more than happy to take you shopping in Muggle London."
"Really?"
"Sure. I have been recruited as your escort, Mr. Potter; and I'll be damned before I let you down. Tell me, have you ever been to Harrods?"
About an hour later found Harry walking about in the prestigious London department store. Red had quite a bit of fun picking out clothes for her young charge and Harry actually didn't mind. Red did admit that she was not the most experienced person when it came to choosing clothes for other people as she preferred to buy simple, functional clothing and never really pursued shopping as an activity for entertainment. Once they had finished the bulk of their shopping, they stopped for lunch. As they enjoyed their meal, Harry asked if he could talk to Red about something; she quickly and discreetly put up a Privacy Charm.
"So, what's on your mind, sport?" she asked.
Harry sighed; if there was anyone he could trust with what he was about to say, he knew Red was it.
"It's just…I found out that my statuses as Lord Potter, Lord Peverell, Lord Gryffindor, Lord Slytherin, Lord Hufflepuff, and Lord Ravenclaw mean that I will need a wife for each title. And then, if Sirius never has a kid, I'm the heir of House Black and will need a wife for that title, too. I just don't know how to go about this."
"Well, Harry, that is quite a conundrum. If you're worried about how any prospective candidate will react to sharing you, the only girls you might get some grief from are the Muggle-borns. The older, pure-blood girls will probably understand the importance of dividing up the titles into different bloodlines. Half-bloods…they usually lean more towards the Muggle view of monogamy, but it depends how they were raised. Many families in the magical world are exclusively monogamist; however, some of the older families still practice polygamy if there is only one heir to multiple titles. I believe the last time it happened was about eighty years ago when the only daughter of the Judrel family married the heir of the Chumley family. They had one son who was heir to both families and had to take a second wife when the first only produced one son."
"But I need six wives," Harry pointed out. "Seven if I inherit the Black Lordship from Sirius."
"Well, you could compile all the titles into one, but that would be incredibly risky. If you only have one or two children then they will have more power available to them than they could handle. Incidentally, having only one woman as the Lady for all those titles would be a social risk that could end up alienating a lot of old families who would feel slighted. I suggest that you follow through with the six wives thing. Not because I agree with it on a moral or ethical level; absolutely not, I am an avid feminist and do not believe in treating women like political tools. However, in this society, you need to take some of the customs cum grano salis."
"So, basically, I have to accept them but maintain a degree of skepticism?
"Or cynicism; that works just as well."
"I bet Hermione will throw a fit when she finds out."
"Ooh, do I detect a hint of romance already?" Red gave Harry a suggestive smirk.
"Well, I don't know. I mean, I've been friends with her since first year and always thought my feelings for her were those of a brother for his sister."
"Harry, you are an only child who grew up in a neglectful environment. How would you know what a brother's feelings are for his sister?"
"Well, I… I never really thought of it that way."
"Harry, your romantic life is not really any of my business. But, if you want my advice, girls tend to like guys who want to be their friends first and then their romantic interest. However, don't take that as a general rule for the entire female population. All girls are different and each one has her own standards about what she looks for in a man. I can easily say that you meet quite a number of standards for quite a great deal of young witches. I will warn you, though, that you should avoid going for girls who only want the Boy-Who-Lived rather than just Harry Potter. Those are what we class as fangirls. While they mean well, their interests tend to be rather self-centered and superficial. Go for girls who want to know you."
"Thanks, Red, I'll be sure to keep that in mind." After his experience with Ginny, Harry definitely intended to follow that advice.
Another good thing that happened was that Harry met one of the girls that had been recommended to him in the file from the MoD.
Harry had been looking around in Flourish and Blott's, picking up his school-books earlier than last time and also getting some books on magical culture and history. He was just reaching for a book on Arithmancy (he had written to Professor McGonagall and asked to change his schedule) when someone else had decided to reach for it at exactly the same moment. Harry heard a very feminine gasp when his hand accidentally brushed against the other person's. Harry looked up and saw a very pretty girl; she had waist-length, perfectly straight, blonde hair and deep, aqua-green eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she apologized.
Harry, ever the chivalrous gentleman, picked up the book and handed it to her.
"Quite alright," he said and offered his hand. "I'm Harry."
The girl smiled as she shook his hand.
"I think everyone knows who you are, Mr. Potter," she said. "I'm Daphne Greengrass."
"Oh, yeah, I recognize you. You're in my year, in Slytherin."
Daphne Greengrass had commonly come to be known as the Slytherin Ice Queen; no one had yet to break through her frigid attitude. Daphne had often held herself aloof; no guy seemed to be worthy of her attention. Yet, when she looked at the emerald-green eyes of the boy before her, she was terrified of being rejected. She knew that Gryffindors believed that Slytherins were evil, a fact that wasn't helped by that bastard Malfoy.
"Um, yes," she replied shyly. Great response there, Daph, she thought; now he'll probably think you're an idiot on top of being evil.
"Well, it's nice to meet you," Harry said with a warm smile that made the Slytherin girl feel very tingly inside. "So, you're taking Arithmancy, too?"
"Yes, I-I mean I felt it will be a very interesting course."
"Much better than something stupid like Divination; bet the only thing a person could predict in that class is whether or not the teacher's mental."
The two teens chuckled slightly.
"What else are you taking?" Harry asked.
"I signed up for Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures."
"So did I; I guess we'll be seeing a lot more of each other this year."
"Yeah," Daphne said with a slight sigh.
"I look forward to it." Harry then checked his watch. "Oops, gotta run. I'll see you around, Daphne."
As he went to pay for his books, Daphne stared after him.
"See you around…Harry."
Harry had also begun doing a study of the files that Gringotts had given him about the various properties he owned. Potter Manor was the one he was most interested in and he and Sirius made plans to spend Christmas there. In addition to Potter Manor were a number of Potter family estates in various countries that would most certainly be worth a visit next summer. Then there was the Peverell estate (an ancient castle situated on a cliff over-looking the shore at Hastings), and the Evans estate (Harry's mother's magical ancestors were from Wales and were renown as Battle-Mages before the last remaining son was discovered to be a Squib), and the Florus estate which, according to the details in the folder, possessed the largest privately-owned gardens in the world. Then, of course, there were the properties owned by the Founders; Hufflepuff Manor was relatively small and situated in a sweeping valley in Wales (the Hufflepuffs were apparently allied with the Evans in the old days), Slytherin Castle was a very old and forbidding-looking place in the marshy region of the Fens, Ravenclaw's home was a large castle in a deep valley in Scotland, and Gryffindor Castle seemed to be a highly-fortified structure just outside of Godric's Hollow in the West Country.
Then, of course, there were the accompanying assets of his heritage. As Harry was descended from all four of the Hogwarts Founders, he was the legal owner of Hogwarts School, its grounds, and the village of Hogsmeade. Diagon Alley was originally built by Lord Jovian Peverell and Lord Marcellus Potter in the 1200s and most of the original shops still maintained a steady business; as the land was owned by the Peverell and Potter families, and as Harry Potter was the heir to both, this meant, naturally, that Harry was the owner of Diagon Alley and received an annual rent from every business therein with the exception of Gringotts Bank which was legally the territory of the goblins. Of course, there were also the business ventures of his family; it seems that his parents and various forbears were quite good at making investments in both the magical and Muggle worlds; let's just say that being a partner in businesses like the Nimbus Broom Company and Microsoft is nothing to sneeze at.
Harry was feeling more connected with his family than he even imagined. To fully understand the impact his forbears had had on the magical community, Harry purchased a number of books; among these were The Potters: A Family History, Peverell: The Legacy of the Legendary Inventors, Famous Battle-Mages of Wales, The Florus Compendium: A Documentation of the Florus Family's Contribution to Herbology, The Life and Times of the Hogwarts Founders, and The Potter Family and the World of Quidditch.
There was much more to his family than Harry had ever expected. It was a good thing that Harry, though not an obsessive reader like Hermione, actually did enjoy reading; he would have read more in the previous timeline were it not for the interference of a certain red-headed 'friend' of his. The books he had purchased about his family had been truly enlightening.
In The Potter Family and the World Quidditch, it revealed that several Potter sons had joined up with several other families to form the first England Quidditch Team (the Potter heir, Crispin Potter, set the first record for fastest player). Once the addition of Seeker was made to Quidditch, a witch by the name of Constanza Potter was the first official Seeker for the Holyhead Harpies.
The Potters also seemed to be a family that prided themselves on their ability to effectively pass legislature and enforce their policies through government. There were a few shady characters in the family tree, as there often are in any family; one particular Lady of the House of Potter was documented as going insane (as in, the type of insane that made Bellatrix Lestrange seem like a qualified care-giver at the Children's Ward in St. Mungo's) and nearly brought about the destruction of Britain, a younger Potter son was deeply involved in the Dark Arts and caused the deaths of all but one of his siblings, and a set of twin girls in the Potter family were legendary for the fact that they had an infamous battle (one was a Light witch and the other a Dark witch) that only ended with the intercession of the then king of England, Edward the Confessor; only for the fighting to start up again after his death until Isolde (the Light witch) triumphed over her sister Siora (the Dark witch).
Then of course there were the Peverells. The Peverells had apparently gained quite a bit of prestige from their tradition of ingenuity in magical inventions; not least of which were the Deathly Hallows (but, only Harry and people like Mr. Lovegood and Dumbledore knew who the Three Brothers of the legend were).
The Evans family, as mentioned earlier, were known Battle-Mages and highly skilled in Runic Magic. From what Harry learned, it was highly possible that his mother had used Runic Magic to protect him the night she sacrificed herself (at least, that was what he theorized when he saw that the Evans family Rune for 'Protection' was in the shape of a lightning-bolt). The Evans family had a long and grueling history of war, violence, loyalty, ruthless efficiency, and an almost fanatical devotion to their homeland and loved-ones. Harry was actually very startled by the lengths some of these people went to in order to protect those they cared about; some things were too unsavory to even contemplate.
Sirius also turned out to be a veritable fount of information thanks to all the time he spent at
Potter Manor; and then of course there was the fact that Harry's paternal grandmother was Sirius' great-aunt. Despite the dark nature of the Black family, Harry found he didn't mind being related to them; there was something strangely enthralling about the Blacks that Harry couldn't explain; of course, Sirius insisted it was the old 'Black Family Charm.' Whatever the bloody hell that meant.
Chapter 5
…And Parrots Started to Announce Television Programs
Harry Potter awoke on Saturday morning in good spirits. Sirius was looking phenomenally better after having had a few good meals. Harry had just finished getting dressed when Hedwig swooped into the room to deliver a letter from Mr. Bayly. Harry handed the owl a piece of bacon from his breakfast plate and quickly opened the letter only to give a cheerful smile when he finished reading.
"Sirius," he said, "I do believe you'll be getting that trial very soon. Listen to this:
"Dear Mr. Potter,
We have finished preparing for the case and shall present it at the earliest possible date. All that is left to do is find a way to arrange a trial for Mr. Sirius Black before the Wizengamot. If you are not too busy, could you and your godfather stop by our office at 6.00pm? It just so happens that Lady Amelia Bones (Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement) has decided to pay us a visit and I feel it is in your best interest to meet with her.
Yours sincerely,
Hamilton Nathaniel Bayly
Attorney at Law"
Sirius (who was currently in his dog form) looked up excitedly and began to wag his tail. The morning's surprises only continued with the arrival of a letter from Luna.
Dear Harry,
In response to your request, daddy has written the article you requested and, once you and your godfather decide if it's good, we will be only too happy to publish it in this week's edition of The Quibbler. You will find the article draft enclosed along with the complementary pair of Spectrespecs that all friends of our magazine receive.
Oh, and thank you for the sunflower bouquet you sent me (there wasn't a single nargle in them); how did you know they are my favorite?
Hope to see you soon,
Love,
Luna
Harry began to feel his cheeks redden slightly; a fact that wasn't helped by the knowing look Sirius was giving him.
Amelia Bones, one of the best heads of the DMLE the Ministry had ever had, was currently sitting in the lounge of the single-most successful law firm in the magical world (probably because it was one of the only law firms in the magical world). The reason why she was at such a noteworthy establishment was because she had received a letter the day before that mentioned information about Sirius Black. Ordinarily, she would have replied by telling the author of the letter to simply contact the local Auror office; but the fact that it was this particular law firm that contacted her made her decision to present herself at the office in question.
"Madam Bones," a young woman with curly ginger hair greeted her warmly, "Thank you for coming. Mr. Bayly will be with you presently."
"And, you are?"
"Frieda Bayly; Mr. Hamilton Bayly is my father."
"What exactly is this meeting about, Miss Bayly?"
"Well-"
Red was cut off by the sudden arrival of Harry Potter and a scruffy, black dog.
"Ah, Mr. Potter, thank you for joining us," she said. "A few minutes early, too; excellent." She then went over and opened a door. "They're here."
"Thank you, Frieda, that will be all," Mr. Bayly said dismissing her.
When Frieda had left the room, Mr. Bayly offered some tea and then got down to business.
"Madam Bones," he said, "were you aware that one Sirius Orion Black never received a trial?"
"I beg your pardon?" she gasped.
"Not only that, he was never questioned under Veritaserum, nor was his wand checked with Prior Incantatem. The law clearly states that the maximum amount of time a person can be held until trial is twenty-eight days if the suspect is represented and consents to being held; this Remand period is reduced to seven days if the suspect is not represented or does not consent to a longer Remand period. Seeing as how Mr. Black was imprisoned without trial for twelve years, the Ministry has no reason to have a warrant for his arrest; to say the least of the fact that the Minister has ordered for an administration of the Dementor's Kiss. However, Mr. Black prefers to have the trial in order to ensure his name is cleared."
"You have correspondence with him?" Madam Bones inquired.
"It just so happens that he has been here the entire time we have been talking, Madam Bones."
"What?"
Once again, Sirius reverted to his human form.
"So, am I going to get a trial or what, Amy?" he asked with a superior smirk.
It was not easy to startle Amelia Bones; she was a former Auror and had seen all but one member of her family killed. But seeing the man supposedly responsible for handing the Potters over to Voldemort now sitting calmly beside the boy he was allegedly out to kill; let's just say that Amelia knew she would be in for a great deal of paperwork.
The following day brought even more promise of a potential trial for Sirius Black with the newest copy of The Quibbler. Beneath a photograph of a young Sirius Black and James Potter (that Harry had found in his photo album and lent to Mr. Lovegood for the edition), was an article that sparked controversy up and down the country.
Sirius-Black as he's Painted?
By Xenophilius Lovegood
Every witch and wizard in Great Britain's magical community knows what happened on the day after Halloween of 1981; or do they?
It is a little-known fact that, even though he was apprehended at the scene of the crime, Sirius Black never received a trial. There was no administration of Prior Incantatem, no interrogation with Veritaserum, and the fact that the man spent twelve years in Azkaban despite the standard procedure being that a suspect cannot be held without trial for a Remand period longer than twenty-eight days. The excuse that "everyone knows he's guilty" is not a feasible explanation for sending any person to Azkaban without due process of the law. If Sirius Black is indeed guilty, why was he not at least interrogated about who other Death Eaters might be? Does the Ministry have something to hide?
We obtained an interview with someone (who wishes to remain anonymous) who has actually spoken with Mr. Black after his escape from the supposedly inescapable prison.
"He did seem a little crazy, but who wouldn't be after spending twelve years in a hell-hole like Azkaban? The place is inhumane. He didn't seem evil to me; if you just looked at his eyes you would see that there is an incredible sadness to them. This was not a man who betrayed the people who were family to him like everyone thinks; this was not a man capable of harming the innocent. This was a man who had seen cruelty and injustice.
"I talked with him for a good deal of time. What he revealed to me was shocking. The Potters, when they went into hiding, placed their home under a Fidelius Charm; but, what isn't known is that Sirius Black was not the Secret-Keeper. He told me that James Potter had tried to get him to be the Secret-Keeper, but Black felt that was too obvious a decision. Instead, Black nominated the least-likely person, a man who, unbeknownst to them, had been secretly giving information to the Death Eaters. The Secret-Keeper was none other than Peter Pettigrew.
"To say I was shocked is an understatement. I asked him about what happened that day he cornered his former friend. What he revealed is something that could shake the very foundation of the accusations against him."
Our anonymous source then repeated what Mr. Black said about that fateful day.
"I had just lost the two people I loved most in the world," said Black, "and my godson was taken away on the orders of Albus Dumbledore. I had learned the hard way that you should be careful whom you trust; a man I thought I knew turned out to be nothing more than a lying, traitorous bastard. I was angry. No, I was blinded with rage. I knew I should've gone to the Ministry and told them the truth, but I was disoriented by a thirst for vengeance. I just wanted to make the traitor suffer as I was suffering. It was stupid, I know; but if you had lost the people closest to you in the world, what would you have done?
"I followed Peter into that crowded street. I knew there were Aurors following us and if I just got a little revenge before they took the bastard away, I could have just a little piece of mind to settle my already guilty conscience. I believe the Muggle term for what I was feeling is 'survivor's guilt.' Anyway, I had him cornered and I had just raised my wand when he pulled his little stunt. He shouted out that I was the traitor and then blew up the street and killed those twelve people. But Peter wasn't dead.
"I had always feared having to give this revelation but the Ministry never knew there were three unregistered Animagi wandering around. You see, when I was at school, James, Peter, and I all became Animagi. James took the form of a stag, I took the form of a dog, and Peter took the form of a rat.
"Once he blew up that street and killed all those people, he cut off his finger and transformed to make it look as though I had done it. It was all an elaborate bluff. Peter is still out there, and I am going to find him."
We at The Quibbler commend Mr. Black for speaking out at last and also thank our anonymous source for bringing this to light.
For information on the Fidelius Charm, see page 17
For information about Animagi, see page 23
It seemed The Quibbler article had done its job. By the time the sun had started to set, the Minister was up to his elbows in howlers from people who were furious over the miscarriage of justice twelve years ago. But Fudge, ever the politician, knew exactly how to get people off his case; all he needed was a scapegoat. Luckily, the scapegoat he was looking for was inside the Ministry that very same day; what was even better was that he knew who to go to in regards to putting all the controversy to rest.
"Amelia," he said to his Head of the DMLE, "by any chance, could we arrange a trial for Sirius Black?"
"I'm sure the man would be only too happy to have the trial he was supposed to have twelve years ago." The sharpness in her tone made Fudge flinch.
"Yes, it's entirely Crouch and Bagnold's fault; those two would've sent someone who looked at them askance to Azkaban without a trial. If there's any way to get in contact with Mr. Black, I would be willing to promise him that he would receive the trial owed to him and that those responsible for his incarceration are punished if he is found to be innocent."
"Even if he's found to be guilty," Amelia countered, "Crouch and Bagnold still violated the law. Because he was never convicted and he was held for longer than the allotted Remand period, Black still goes free because of their screw up."
"Right," Fudge admitted. He was seriously hoping that Black was innocent; if he were found guilty, then it would mean a Death Eater goes free. Damn Crouch and Bagnold; they leave me their mess to clean up. At least if Black is found innocent then it means good PR for me.
The trial was scheduled for Thursday. Sirius was escorted by Amelia Bones and several Aurors to a Ministry holding cell. On the way, Sirius turned to one of the Aurors; she was very young and looked like she was still a trainee; she had short, spiky, pink hair and there was something about her face that was familiar.
"Um, pardon me, but have I met you before?" he asked her. "You look like someone I know but I can't place who right now."
"I'm Auror Tonks," she replied.
"Tonks. Oh, yeah, you're little Nymphadora."
"Don't call me that! Wait…how did you know?"
"Your mum's my favorite cousin. How is Andromeda doing these days?"
"She's fine." Tonks was finding this whole situation very confusing. Here was a man she had grown up learning to despise, and yet he was talking to her as if they were old buddies having a drink.
"And your dad? How is Ted doing?"
"He's good; he actually took an early retirement a month ago."
"Huh, well, when you see your mum and dad next, tell them I said hello."
"How did you recognize me?"
"Well, I used to babysit you."
"You did?"
"Honestly, was it that long ago that you don't remember 'Uncle Siri'? You used to run around the house knocking things over and laughing as I tried to catch you."
Tonks racked her memories for a moment and she did faintly remember a little of what he was talking about. She was really starting to hope that this guy was innocent like he claimed.
Albus Dumbledore was sitting in his office at Hogwarts, completely oblivious to the recent events; he was still trying to sort things out with Gringotts and the goblins were certainly not going to cut him any slack. Didn't those stupid little buggers know who he was? He was Albus Dumbledore! Everything he did was for the Greater Good!
After all, it wasn't as though Harry would need that money. The boy was destined to sacrifice himself so that, when Voldemort returned, he, Albus Dumbledore, could emerge as the hero once again. Who cares about one insignificant child when the fate of the world was at stake? Of course, Dumbledore knew that seeking help from the Ministry was out of the question; no, having too many people involved in this may eventually lead to some awkward questions and there was the possibility that someone would end up learning about the Horcruxes. That would completely ruin Albus' plans.
He was just helping himself to a sherbet lemon when The Evening Prophet was delivered. He opened the paper and the first thing that caught his attention nearly made him have a heart-attack. Sirius Black to Receive Trial. This was not good for Albus Dumbledore's plans.
Harry Potter was currently sitting alone in his room at the Leaky Cauldron. He already missed Sirius, but he knew that his godfather would be out in no time. He just had to be patient. Just a few more days and Sirius would be a free man. As there were a few days left until the trial, Harry decided he would try and get some work done; and not the homework kind because he'd already finished with that.
No, Harry got out several rolls of parchment, some ink, and his quills and began to write. The first thing he did was write out two lists. The first list read:
Things I Have Gotten Done:
-Make contact with Bayly, Black, and Prewett
-Inspect parents' will
-Review Potter family holdings
-Change elective from Divination to Arithmancy and Ancient Runes
-Secured a contract with The Quibbler in order to protect my image
-Arranged for Sirius to get a trial
-Petition for a restraining order against Snape
-Got that article about Sirius published
-Acquired the new course materials
The second one read:
Things I Need To Do:
-Catch Pettigrew
-Destroy the Horcruxes
-Visit St. Mungo's and get the binding on my magic removed
-Get in contact with Robert Preston about private Potions tuition
-Find a decent instructor in Occlumency
-Find a tutor in magical customs
-Investigate the value of the basilisk carcass that's still in the Chamber of Secrets; if it is worth much money, divide it amongst those who were harmed
-Inspect the inventories of my other vaults
-Visit my family properties
-Retrieve the Diadem from the RoR and inspect the other items in the Room of Hidden Things
-Give an interview to The Quibbler about the truth of my life
-Keep Malfoy from getting Buckbeak in trouble
-Work on social life; perhaps I should start up the DA as a club this year
-Maybe begin more business ventures in Hogsmeade (the place really could use more attractions)
-Begin a research of technomancy; it is time that the magical community incorporates some Muggle technologies (will require some researchers)
-Reform Hogwarts educational system, institute anti-bullying and anti-bigotry rules, and perhaps alter the House Point system
-Find six wives (no hurry on that one)
Harry looked at the very last point on his 'to-do' list and nodded. He had no intention of rushing into any sort of relationship; although, Harry suspected that Sirius wouldn't allow him to slack-off in the romance department.
Harry then set his lists aside and took out another piece of parchment.
Dear Hermione,
I've been missing you a lot. What's new and exciting in my life, you may ask? Well, I'm not sure if you know yet, but I accidentally blew up my Aunt Marge. Before you go off on a rant about how irresponsible I was, I would like to make it clear that it was an accident. She was saying things about my mother that made me very much want to strangle her. And, no, I'm not overreacting. I've also recently secured legal representation in order to prevent being misrepresented in the media. Once again, no, I am not being too extreme. People have been making money off of my name and image even though I have no idea who they are.
Have you heard about the Sirius Black trial that's taking place this Thursday?
Turns out the 'wanted murderer' is really my godfather and is completely innocent. At least when he gets off I won't ever have to go back to the Dursleys ever again. Before you start thinking that I shouldn't assume Sirius Black is innocent just because a magazine stated that he is, I would like to point out to you that I have, in fact, met the man already and have no doubts regarding his innocence.
By now you are probably wondering how I guessed your reactions to each piece of news. Well, considering you are my best friend I think I have a fairly good idea about how to read your responses to various things. But, I digress.
A great many things are changing for me, Hermione. I would like to tell you more about it, but I think I've talked enough about myself.
I would really like to hear more about how your summer has been going. How are you? What have you been up to? Have you been having fun?
I would also like to take a moment to apologize to you, Hermione. I don't think I've been a very good friend over these past two years. I mean, I haven't even asked you about your life before Hogwarts, at all. I don't really know anything about your family except that both your parents are dentists. I really think I've taken your friendship for granted and humbly ask that you forgive me.
I also got some very interesting books that you might enjoy reading; I know I certainly did. Now you're probably wondering 'Harry Potter reading? Hell must've frozen over.' Yes, Hermione, I have decided to take a leaf out of your book, as it were, and started paying attention to my studies.
Speaking of studies, I can't wait to see you in Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. I'm sure you'll be the best, like every other class.
Well, I've got to go,
I'm staying at the Leaky Cauldron,
Hope to see you soon,
Love,
Harry James Potter
Harry smiled as he tied the letter to Hedwig's leg. The Snowy owl gave him an approving look (as though she knew what he was doing), nipped him affectionately on the ear, and set off into the evening sky.
When the letter reached Hermione, the bushy-haired girl wasn't sure whether to cry happily or laugh outright. It was so typical of Harry that he would apologize for something he hadn't done and then try to make up for it to her with a peace offering of books and his promise to do better in his studies. Hermione had never once thought that Harry took her for granted; though she was shocked that he called her his 'best friend' as she believed that Ron already held that title. She was also taken-aback by Harry's sudden interest to know more about her; though she was very touched by the consideration.
Hermione knew that she hadn't been very forthcoming about her life. She was a secretive person by nature as her childhood had not been a particularly happy one. Oh, her parents loved and cared about her all right, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was that, in primary school, whenever she had tried to open up to any of the other students they had turned around and hurt her; this caused her to avoid talking about herself for fear of giving someone else ammunition to cause her pain. And it wasn't just the kids at her old school; her cousins, Caitlin and Roslyn, were absolutely merciless; both girls had gone out of their way to make Hermione miserable, both with verbal insults and even occasionally resorting to physical injuries (often in the form of cruel pranks).
However, despite her anxiousness about talking about herself, Hermione knew she could trust Harry. Her friend had long since proven himself loyal (well, jumping onto the back of a rampaging troll in an effort to save her would tend to do that).